State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers

Fusion centers operate as state and major urban area focal points for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between federal; state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT); and private sector partners.

Fusion Center Value

The National Network of Fusion Centers (National Network) brings critical context and value to homeland security and law enforcement that no other federal or local organization can replicate. Fusion centers accomplish this through their:

Unique Information

Fusion centers are information sharing hubs that provide comprehensive and appropriate access, analysis, and dissemination that no other single partner can offer.

Unique Perspective

Independence from federal partners allows fusion centers to provide partners with a unique perspective on threats to their state or locality, contributing to the national threat picture.

Unique Role

Fusion centers are the primary conduit between frontline personnel, state and local leadership, and the rest of the Homeland Security Enterprise[1], filling a significant security gap identified by the 9/11 Commission.

DHS’s Partnership with the National Network

Because state and major urban area fusion centers are locally owned and operated, the relationship between the National Network and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—as well as other homeland security partners—is a truly collaborative partnership.

DHS is committed to maturing its relationship with fusion centers and enhancing information sharing across the homeland security enterprise. As part of this commitment, DHS manages the Fusion Center Performance Program (FCPP) which is designed to evaluate the capability and performance of the National Network. The FCPP also helps DHS and other federal partners to improve the quality and effectiveness of Federal government support to fusion centers.

Beyond the FCPP, DHS, along with other federal partners, also provides significant resources to fusion centers through training, technical assistance, information systems access, guidance, and other support.

I&A Field Personnel

The DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) deploys field personnel—to include Intelligence Officers (IOs), Reports Officers (ROs), and Regional Directors (RDs)—nationwide in support of state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector (SLTTP) partners. I&A Field Personnel support these partners by facilitating the intelligence cycle at the local level and fostering information sharing between all homeland security stakeholders. Field Personnel provide intelligence collection and reporting; integrated intelligence analysis; threat sharing and reporting; and overall engagement with their SLTTP and fusion center partners.

Technical Assistance and Training

In coordination with the Department of Justice (DOJ), DHS has conducted hundreds of training and technical assistance workshops and exchanges on topics including risk analysis, security, and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties since 2007.

Fusion Center Success Stories: Fusion centers continuously collaborate with each other and other federal and state and local law enforcement to help secure communities and the Homeland. These success stories are just a snapshot of fusion center contributions to enhancing our collective security through information sharing.

[1] Homeland Security Enterprise is “the Federal, State, local, tribal, territorial, nongovernmental, and private-sector entities, as well as individuals, families, and communities who share a common national interest in the safety and security of America and the American population.” (QHSR 2010)